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It’s Freedom Day! June 19th commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States and is Juneteenth. The Fourth of July is widely known as a holiday dedicated to celebrating independence, but many people also celebrate Freedom Day—Juneteenth. June 19, 1865, is an important day in history and marks the fight to end American slavery and is honored across the country with marches, parades, community events, and more. All federal orders declared enslaved people in Texas as free.
Juneteenth is about more than celebrating with a tour at the French Quarter with the New Orleans Slave Trade or visiting a plantation. Juneteenth is a time to celebrate black culture and African American history. Black history is year-round. Children are our future leaders and historians of black history. Observing the culture more and focusing less on just slavery is important. One of the simplest things to do with them is to spread awareness and amplify Black voices.
Below are ideas for celebrating Juneteenth in New Orleans with kids:
Support Black Owned Businesses and Restaurants
Actively support Black Owned Businesses. One of the easiest things to do to commemorate Juneteenth is to Support a Black-Owned Business (BOB). Click this link for a list of Black Owned Businesses and Restaurants. Take your kids to a BOB and let them know this is a Black-Owned Institution
Visit Baldwin Book Store
Amplify black voices and read books about African American Royalty rather than the painful past of slavery
Attend Community Events
New Orleans East Juneteenth Pop Up Event - New Orleans East Matters is hosting a Popup event on June 18th and June 19th
New Orleans Juneteenth Festival - Celebrate Juneteenth all weekend long at NOLA Juneteenth Festival. From June 18th and June -20th , various events will occur, including a book reading and film screening at the Tremé Center on Friday, a free festival in Armstrong Park on Saturday, and a freedom gala on Sunday
Juneteenth at NOMA - Commemorate Juneteenth with unique programming at NOMA. Participate in family-friendly art activities on June 19th
Juan Lafontas Juneteenth Event - Juan Lafonta & Associates, L.L.C. is hosting their First Annual Juneteenth Celebration from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 19th
Visit Museums
Studio Be and CitizenShe -Hosting a short film on incarceration to raise funds for DBI (Daughters Beyond Incarceration)
Ogden Museum - The 8th annual HBCU showcase is premiering here until October
New Orleans African American - Hosting a celebration on June 19th from 11 am - 6pm
Terrance Osborne Gallery- Visit the gallery and buy art to help support the business
Abstract NOLA - Hosting a pop-up shop from11am-3pm on June 19th
She loves NOLA - Official Juneteenth Celebration on June 19th
Black Excellence Historical Tours
Dillard University-Visit a Historically Black College and University with your kids.
Xavier University of Louisiana - Taking a college tour at a Historically Black College and University has made a positive impact for my kids. We visited my college Xavier University last year and they were amazed with the campus and the students who looked like them but were from different backgrounds.
Southern University - My kids love Sothern's campus. It is smaller but it feels like home. The Southern University system is the only HBCU system in America.
Tour the historical Treme' - The Treme' is the oldest African American neighborhood. The birthplace of Jazz at Congo Square is in the Treme' at Louis Armstrong Park.
Oretha Castle Haley Take a walk and tour in this shopping and cultural destination. The street also has Southern Food and Beverage Museum, numerous restaurants like Café Reconcile, Ashe Cultural Arts Center and the Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center.
Donate to UNCF -- United Negro College Fund helps send students to college and turn their lives around. Black Colleges & Universities are counting on these dollars.
Read books to kids - Amplify black voices:
A Black Woman Did That
Study Mansa Musa - The richest man in history A wonderful story about Black Excellence.
Juneteenth in 2021, is celebrating Black Excellence, African American Freedom, families, heritage, and becoming our ancestor’s wildest dreams. We can increase our awareness and our children's on Juneteenth by staying active and keeping the celebration going all year.
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